Page 19 of Ghosts of the Dead

Shit.

The realization is sobering. The fog lifts, and pieces fall into place. The bar, the explosion, the fire. Her voice. Her hands. Her lips.

Before I can say anything else, Autumn scoots closer and lifts one hand to my forehead, threading her fingers through my hair. “Easy. You’ve got a big bump. It’s a nasty one. Does it hurt?”

Her voice is soft. Her fingers are cooler than the morningair, soothing the heat that pulses behind my eyes. I lean into her touch. It’s so gentle, it makes something ache in my chest. Not the kind of hurt she’s talking about. “It’s not that bad,” I lie.

My eyes drift shut, but something shifts in my chest, some buried memory trying to break free. That kiss. That softness. The rightness of it, even in my fevered state.

Double shit.

My eyes snap open. I look at her, and I mean, I really look at her. Same eyes from the dream. Same hazel gaze that sees more than it should. I follow the line of her cheek to her mouth, and I can still remember the taste, the way she’d responded for just a moment before pulling away. Her breath catches and she goes still when my gaze drops to her lips. The silence between us speaks louder than words.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Jace’s hands still on the car engine, but his attention remains entirely focused on us. There’s something almost possessive in his stare, though he’s trying to hide it. And Caspian has gone rigid in his corner, watching us with an intensity that’s hard to miss.

Well, hell. This is going to be complicated.

My eyes move to her wrist, wrapped in a fresh white bandage. I sit up fast. Pain slices through my skull, but I ignore it. “What happened to your wrist?”

That’s a stupid question. I know what happened. I was there, and I saw it. Still, I need to know how bad it is.

Her brow furrows. “Sprained. Rooftop jump. Tried to get away from someone so insistent on keeping me safe.” Her mouth lifts into a smile, and it’s contagious enough to make me smile too, despite the pounding in my head.

She’s got jokes. I like that.

I reach for her wrist without thinking and turn her hand over in mine. The bandage is snug, but her fingers tremble, though I’m not sure if it’s from pain or proximity. Her skin issoft and warm against mine. “I remember now. Does it hurt?”

“A little, but I can manage.”

“You should take something.” I glance around the empty shelter. The only objects in this place are charred or broken. “There’s a bottle of painkillers in my bag. Blue zipper pocket.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not. You’re hurt.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off with a look and shake of my head. Damn, my head fucking hurts. “I’m serious, Autumn. Take the meds. They should also help with the swelling.”

Her jaw tightens, and she meets my gaze with a stubbornness that almost makes me smile again. God, she’s fierce. “As long as there’s enough for you, too.”

“There is. Now go take some.”

“Thanks, Mars.” Autumn pauses. “Mars.” She shakes her head with a small smile. “Still can’t believe that’s actually your name.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Says the woman named after a season.”

“Fair point,” she laughs. “What I mean to say is your name is odd, like mine, and I like it. We’ve probably both gotten our fair share of comments over the years.”

“Oh yeah. ‘Is that planet inhabitable, still’ ‘Do you have any little green men in your brain?’ Heard it all.” I shrug, but can’t help my grin. “Could be worse, though.”

“How’s that?”

I meet her eyes and let my voice drop a little to feign seriousness. “You could’ve been named Winter. Cold and harsh. But Autumn?” I shake my head. “Warm colors, transformation, harvest…yeah, you’re definitely my favorite season.”

Her cheeks flush, but her smile widens. “Well, lucky for you, you happen to be my favorite planet.”

“Damn right I am,” I reply, and the way she chuckles makes my headache fade a little. “Now, let’s get you those painkillers. I’ll come with you.”

I push up from the floor. The room tilts. My foot brushes something strange and I feel off balance. I frown, glance down, and wiggle my toes in my boots.

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